Customs Agent Indicted

DIGEST

A senior U.S. Customs Service inspector at Miami International Airport has been indicted on charges that he took a bribe to help smuggle cocaine and the designer drug ``Ecstasy'' into the country.

Customs Inspector Anthony Rodriguez helped smuggle the drugs through the airport from Feb. 3 until May 1, according to an indictment unsealed on Friday in U.S. District Court in Miami.

Also charged in the indictment is Frank Merhib, a civilian accused of smuggling the drugs.

The indictment says Rodriguez agreed to a bribe to help get the drugs through the airport.

His arrest comes two months after three other customs inspectors and three Hallandale police officers were charged with drug smuggling and robbery for their roles in a scheme to move drugs through the airport. Those defendants have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

Customs officials were not immediately available for comment on Tuesday afternoon.